[SBB] Eastern Phoebe at Oka Ponds

["Peggy Don" <[[email protected]]>]

SBBers:

Janna Pauser joined me today, 11-18-05, to scout for an upcoming field trip at Oka Ponds.  Before we entered the gate on Oka Lane we saw an OSPREY in a tree with a fish.  We entered and crossed the channel to bird along the fence on the right.  Around 8:30 AM as Janna was looking at a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER I looked at a phoebe on the upside down U-shaped pipes by the dry channel.  I was about to say, "Here's our Black Phoebe" but instead said, "Look, look at this bird."  We had a good look at its profile.  The back of the head was blockish but did not have a crest like the Black Phoebe.  The neck was short and the bill was dark.  The head, upperparts and tail were darkish gray.  The underparts were light from the throat to the tail with a yellowish wash but I could not tell where the yellowish wash began.  I also do not recall distinct wing bars but Janna said she saw two.  The tail was long.  After 30 seconds I was going to find the bird in the scope when it flew right to a low branch on a small tree across the channel.  Two Black Phoebes were also in the tree.  Janna and I almost simultaneously said, "EASTERN PHOEBE!"  Five to ten minutes before we saw the phoebe we had heard an unfamiliar whistled call.  From the small tree it flew farther right diagonally across the pond to a low bush and from there toward the fence.  Unfortunately we could not refind the phoebe.  Four birders came to assist us but the phoebe was not refound. 

Janna showed me where she had seen snipe previously on the island in the pond to the left of the entrance.  Sure enough there were 4 WILSON'S SNIPE.  We saw another snipe on snipe island and an additional one on a tiny adjacent island for a 6 snipe day.

A nice assortment of ducks were seen:  GADWALL, HOODED MERGANSER (2 male, 1 female), BUFFLEHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK,  AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER ,and last but not least, 2 WOOD DUCKs (1 adult female and 1 juvenile female whose tear drop was not as prominent as the adult's).    

Some other notables were COOPER'S HAWK, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and CEDAR WAXWINGS.

Good Birding,
Peggy Don
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